GE1401 University English

Unit 3: Data representation and commentary

(Infographics)
In this unit you will be discussing infographics, a form of visual representation of information that is
designed to make complex ideas, data and statistics easy to understand. Infographics are an
increasingly popular way of sharing information in newspapers, magazines, and online news sites.
(Please see Infographic Assignment guidelines below for more detailed information.)
The activities below will guide you through a) learning about infographics, i.e., their purpose,
organization, pros and cons, and how to design them (Activities 1-5), and b) brainstorming and
getting started on your own infographic and reflecting on the process so far (Activities 6-11).

Infographic Assignment Guidelines (20%)

The infographic is done in pairs or teams of 3 and consists of conducting, documenting and
synthesizing the research on a joint topic. It is recommended to be neutral and informative in tone,
not greatly argumentative (i.e. laying out pros and cons on a topic). You will identify sources (incl.
referencing in basic APA style) and collaboratively create a graphic representation of your topic, using
the principles and tools introduced in class.

Assignment Guidelines and Specifications:

This collaborative assignment (in teams of 2-3) – while not necessarily argumentative in nature -
serves as the stepping stone for the Argumentative Essay in that it will kick start the reading/research
stages of your writing process. The purpose of the Infographic is to provide background information
on a topic that you can choose to write about in your Essay.
During this stage, you will work in small teams (3 people max.) to read, research, take notes, and
gather information and background information on a possible topic.
Task Fulfillment includes novelty, originality, information and technology use. Your visualization
should be original and interesting as your team is expected to display important information in a
compelling way, making effective use of the relevant technology.

Here are the concrete steps to follow:

1. Read and brainstorm different topics and identify a topic of choice. The topic that you have
identified should pose a problem. Please note that you do not need to pick the exact same
topic for your Argumentative Essay - but you can.
2. Start collecting information. Your final goal will be to provide different perspectives on the
topic. This does not mean that you need to take a stand on an issue at this point, but that you
begin to assemble evidence that illustrates the problem. You will practice individual and team
brainstorming, freewriting, etc. and record your ideas with the use of a circular or linear mind
map or graphic organizer. This will then provide the starting point for your Infographic.
3. Your team can use maps or graphic organizers to organize your ideas for the selected topic.
4. At this stage, you need to provide at least three academic resources in basic APA style.

Activity 1: Brainstorm possible topics and groups

Work with your classmates to list controversial topics or problem issues in the world today, e.g.
smartphone dependence, pollution, nuclear power etc. (Also, you could think about who you might
like to form a team with).

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Activity 2: Presenting Data (TED Talks)

TED Talks: The Beauty of Data Visualization by David McCandless
http://www.ted.com/talks/david_mccandless_the_beauty_of_data_visualization

As you watch the video, take notes in the following areas, and be ready to discuss these later.

i) In what ways does McCandless say data visualization (e.g. in infographics) is important?

ii) What bits of the talk do you find interesting?

Activity 3: Sample Infographics

Your teacher will show a short PPT also introducing infographics. Try to note down some of the key
points as you watch.

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Activity 4: True/False – Making an Infographic

 Read these statements
 Scan (don’t read in detail, just look for specific answers) the passages following it (pages 3-5)
and decide if the statements are T or F

Statements about Infographics T F

1. Infographics should be complicated

2. There can be more than one topic focus in an infographic.

3. Infographics should be factual.

4. The information gets broader and less specific as you read down the page.

5. “Animal Testing is cruel and should be made illegal” is a good title for an
infographic on this course.

6. On this course, infographics should exhibit a neutral-to-academic tone.

7. In this course, academic citations should be put at the bottom of an infographic.

8. Infographics show plain facts.

9. Counter-arguments should be rebutted/refuted in infographics in this course.

10. Infographics rely primarily on images, numbers, graphs, charts and maps
rather than text

Making an Infographic
1) What is an infographic?
 An infographic is a visual representation of a collected set of information.
 A good infographic "should present complex information quickly and clearly… they illustrate
information that would be unwieldy in text form." (Mashable.com)
 An infographic is all about a single, well-focused, topic.
 The information in an infographic is mostly image-based information, not textual
information. The information might include numbers, charts showing people's opinions,
graphs showing growth patterns over time, or short summaries of studies (usually as images).
 A good infographic should tell a story with information.
 After viewing your infographic, all of the information should 'add up' to a single coherent
conclusion for the reader.
 Important note: The rhetorical / persuasive power of infographics is in the way that they
present information that looks like it is only showing the plain facts. In other words, the
infographic should not sound harsh or opinionated, but, rather, it should sound like the truth,
the facts, the numbers.

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 A good infographic should seem to re-frame the argument away from personal opinion and
make the argument appear like it stands independent of opinion because the infographic
shows only the collected data in a fun, non-confrontational way.

2) How should infographics be organized?

 Many infographics follow a predictable pattern. In other words, they tend to present
information in a particular order. When making an infographic using the elongated printer
page layout (like the kind that you can make using the Instagram website), the layout is top-
down or 'big view' to 'small view.' This means that the information gets more specific and
narrow as you read down the page.
 In general, infographics have titles at the top of the page. The titles are short and non-
threatening. They do not have titles like, "Why drinking shark fin soup is evil and should be
banned immediately" Instead, infographics usually have ‘neutral’ titles such as: "The facts
about shark fin soup."
 In general, infographics present the widest view of the topic first and then show the details
or show how the topic affects individuals later at the bottom of the page.
 Good academic infographics should include citations for all of the information included.
Citations should be in small print at the bottom of the infographic. Although not all
infographics include citations, ones made by academics and students should certainly include
them to ensure honesty and accuracy. Remember, citations are good. They vastly increase
your credibility. If you show that your argument is based on research, then your audience is
more likely to trust you and to believe that the infographic is showing the true facts. That's
the goal.
 In general, infographics tend to include 'fun facts' that also further the argument.

3) What is different about an infographic from a traditional argumentative essay?

 Infographics are designed to reach audiences who are 1) new to a topic and 2) who might not
believe your opinion. They often seem less confrontational than a traditional academic
argumentative essay.
 Note: because infographics seek to reach a particular audience, they are designed to be
interesting and easy to explore. Their tone should be somewhere between neutral to formal,
or somewhat academic in our context.
 Infographics are also designed to be non-threatening but contain a lot of information that all
point in the same direction, i.e. make a coherent point.
 Infographics rely primarily on image information (images, numbers, graphs, maps) not textual
information. Traditional academic arguments rely on text. Of course, infographics have some
text, such as the title, but the majority of the infographic should be image information, such
as charts, graphs and pictures.
 Note: Infographics rely on image information and fun designs because they attempt to appeal
to an audience in a relaxed way that does not threaten or 'beat the audience over the head'
with opinions and strong words. Do not forget that different audiences require different
kinds of approaches.
 Unlike traditional argumentative essays, infographics do not forcefully refute a counter
argument. (Remember: the persuasive power of infographics is in the way that they present
image information that seems like the plain facts.) However, like traditional argumentative
essays, authors making infographics do try to include information that addresses counter
arguments.

For example, imagine you want to argue that shark fin soup should be illegal in Hong Kong
because sharks are crucial to the oceans but are dying as a result of fishing for soup. In this
scenario, your infographic might show some of the best information that you collected to

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support your position. You might start by showing the number of sharks being killed in the
oceans for shark fin soup every year. However, your audience (people new to the topic
and/or lovers of shark fin soup!) might think to themselves, 'But there are plenty of sharks in
the ocean; we could never kill them all!' Consequently, your infographic might try to address
this possible counter argument. To do so, you might include a graph showing the declining
shark population over the last ten years. In this way, your infographic would be addressing
the counter argument. Through the presentation of the graph, your infographic suggests that
there are not plenty of sharks in the ocean and that shark populations are declining rapidly.
Your infographic would, therefore, not need to textually explain that argument; the graph
'says it' for you.

4) Why make an infographic?

 It is very satisfying to create a good infographic.
 They allow you to show your argument through the researched information that you have
collected. This gives infographics new and different affordances from writing an essay. For
one, not everyone will read a long, argumentative essay. In addition, not everyone will want
to read an argumentative essay because they might be tired or frustrated by your opinions.
But an infographic allows you to show your argument as a set of facts, statistics, images and
examples. So, infographics can reach different audiences.
 Specifically, infographics reach audiences who are new to the topic or who might resist the
argument you want to make. Infographics can be more palatable.
 They also give you time to think about the information you have collected on your topic and
consider which pieces of information are most compelling and most necessary to different,
specific audiences.
 They can be used as part of the writing process. Making an infographic should help you to
refine your argument, consider how to reach public and academic audiences effectively, and
think of counter-arguments that people new to the topic as well as opponents might raise.

5) How do I make an infographic?

1. Think about what argument you might like to tackle in your argumentative essay. Brainstorm
what information you might want to look for to allow you to tackle that topic in an informed
way, and what information you think you should be able to find.
2. Think of ways to show your argument. For example, if I want to argue that Hong Kong people
can and should reduce their household waste because Hong Kong is running out of storage
room, then I will need facts about the amount of household waste in Hong Kong, facts about
the limited space in Hong Kong, and maybe quotations from people about how bad the waste
problem is in Hong Kong. I can organize this set of information into an infographic. Keep an
open mind – follow the facts, even if they are not what you were expecting – this may adjust
your later stance on the topic.
3. Collect information that allows you to address your topic. Visit relevant websites. Explore the
university's library website. If you find facts or statistics, write them down. You may want to
make a graph with those statistics later.
4. Collect balanced data and facts that allow you to present a well-rounded summary of the
topic. You can decide later on which of these data you might like to include in your essay.

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Activity 5a: Organization of Infographics

The different parts of 2 infographics are mixed up below. Reorganize them into the correct order.
Infographic 1:

A.

B.

C.
Your answer:
Infographic 2:

A.

B.
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C. D.
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Your answer:

Activity 5b: Summarizing the Information in Infographics

In your team of 2-3, try to note down short answers for the following:
Infographic 1:
 Title/topic:
 Background:
 Main focus/content:
 Sources:

Infographic 2:
 Title/topic:
 Background:
 Main focus/content:
 Sources:

Activity 5c: Partner Discussion

Work with your partner. How can you improve Infographics 1 and 2?
Infographic 1 Infographic 2

Activity 6 - Confirm your topic and team

Think back to Activity 1 and choose your team and topic.

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Activity 7: Free Writing - Infographic Topics

1. Review the freewriting rules (keep writing, you are not allowed to stop)
2. Freewrite on your topic for 5 minutes.
3. Swap your freewriting with a neighbour.
4. Read through your neighbor’s freewriting and circle the top 3 items you would like to know
more about.
5. Go back to your own paper. Choose 1 of the top 3 items circled and freewrite for another 5
minutes.

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Activity 8: Mind-Mapping – Identifying your Infographic’s Main

Focus
 Now work with your partners.
 Use your freewriting ideas to make a mind map of your infographic.
 Decide what focus of the issue/problem your group would like to work on.

Activity 9: Generating an Infographic Outline

Having completed your mindmap, it is useful to plan your outline first. The following outline shows
the basic structure of an infographic.

The Basic Outline of an Infographic

I. Topic and Title   
 The topic should be an ongoing debate of an issue/problem
 The title should be factual and non-threatening
II. Background
 Provide background information and the context of the problem

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 This should include some data, statistics, charts and graphs etc
III. Main focus/content
 You can focus on one or several aspects of an issue/problem.
 Remember you should present your message as plain facts.
 You may include “fun” facts to make your infographic look more interesting and fun.  
IV. Sources  
 Your sources should be academic and you have to put down basic information that you
have included in the infographic, i.e., names of the articles, website links etc.

Now plan your infographic. (Remember, your infographic serves as the initial stage for the
introduction of your Argumentative Essay later in the course.)

1. Topic:

Title:

3. Background information: 

4. Main focus/content

5. Sources:

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Activity 10: Drafting the Infographic

When you are ready, visit Infogr.am. Explore the website. It will make the infographic for you (with
your input and ideas of course). Here's how the website works:
1. Click the button 'start now, it's free';
2. Register with your email and create a user name (note: you might want to use an old email
address or share an account with your friend);
3. View tutorials to help you start – click ‘Learn’ in the top right of the screen to find lots of
tutorials.
4. Choose a template design to start off with;
5. On the left side, click the buttons to add a chart, a graph, a map, or a text area. Note: once any
element is added, you can still drag and drop it to move it around the infographic and put it
where you want it.
6. Develop a non-threatening title. The title should be about the topic, should tell the reader the
idea of the infographic, and should sound factual, not opinionated. (See infographic examples
and look over the titles.) You can add a title by double-clicking the title on the template and
adding your own;
7. Organize your information from 'big view' to 'small view.' Try to include the most general
pieces of information at the top. Then include more specific and more fun pieces of
information later. Also, don't forget to include the information that addresses the most
obvious or most common competing claims;
8. Use a text box to add your sources in citations at the bottom;
9. Consider the content, organization, coherence, attractiveness, images and words and design
of colors and graphics during your collaborative work.
10. Edit and clean up. Do not overload your infographic. It should look fun and easy to explore.
Eliminate any unnecessary text. 5-8 images/graphs/charts should be plenty!

Alternatively, use 1 of the following websites to start creating your infographic:

 https://infogr.am/
 http://piktochart.com/
 https://www.canva.com/create/infographics/
 https://venngage.com/
 http://www.creativebloq.com/infographic/tools-2131971 (blog with free sites)
 http://vizualize.me/

Examples of Infographics:
Diabetes infographic: http://hin.com/blog/2012/12/18/infographic-the-impact-of-diabetes/
CDC infographic on blood pressure: http://www.cdc.gov/socialmedia/tools/infographics.html
SMS Marketing Infographic: http://www.business2community.com/infographics/the-power-of-
sms-marketing-infographic-0514154
Malaria infographic: http://www.path.org/blog/2012/04/malaria-control-good-investment/blog-
20120425-malaria-infographic-4/ (link currently not working – Jan 2021)

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Activity 11: Reflective Writing after completing Infographic

Now you have completed the Infographic, think about the process you and your partner(s) went
through to complete the assignment.

1. Consider:
 What you did well
 What you found difficult
 What you have learned (areas you have ‘grown in’)
 Whether you used the ‘process writing’ approach (planning, drafting, developing, revising,
editing, proofreading)?
 If the pre writing tasks you performed for the infographic (researching, mindmapping,
organizing etc), will help you outline and write your essay in the coming weeks?
 If this was new to you, did you find it easy? useful? not helpful? …..
 How doing the Infographic fitted in with your goals (from the Needs Analysis)?
 Whether you need to set some new goals (where are you now? Where do you want to be?)?

 Remember that in the final assignment (Reflective Writing Self Assessment, due Week 13),
you will need to:
 Evaluate your achievement of your goals
 Identify other weaknesses and plan future goals
 Reflect on the process writing approach

2. Now spend 15 mins writing about your reflections on the above points

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